Sri Lanka: U’grads Agitate Call for Release of Two in Remand

[University students protest in Colombo- File photo]

06/05/2015

Undergraduates of six State Universities will conduct protests and marches at noon today (06) calling for the release of the two student activists who were arrested on 30, April by the Cinnamon Gardens Police and remanded till 9th, to be released immediately.

The Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) said that the protests and marches would be conducted by the Universities of Kelaniya,Sri Jayewardenepura, Rajarata, Peradeniya, Wayamba and Ruhuna.

Hulftsdorp Magistrate’s Court ordered Jayewardenepura Management Faculty student Shakthi Mapavita and Kelaniya Sociology Department student Wishwa Dhanananjaya De Silva to be remanded till 11th, on charges of damaging public property and assaulting a Police officer on 29th during an Inter-University Bhikkhu Federation march and protest, in front of the University Grants Commission.

The protest was against the reducing of the number of subjects and the curtailing of the number of enrolments to universities.

“Police officers chased after them and arrested them, after which they confiscated their mobile phones and kept them at a Police station in secrecy. This suppressive treatment is similar to what took place under the previous Government.

These undemocratic practices are being ordered by the good governance government headed by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. This government too is commodifying education. This government has assaulted undergraduates and intimidated them by visiting student union leaders and activists at their homes in the middle of the night. We demand the immediate release of Mapavita and De Silva,” Convenor of the IUSF Najith Indika added